Various
Cultural Perspectives on Health have emerged around the globe over the past
millennia each with their own conception of health, disease and cure. The
relationship between mind and body differs for each worldview and so does the
the approach to preventative health promotion vs. restorative disease cures.

Gurung
(2006) identifies a number of "cultural worldviews" on health that are
indigenous to various places in the world. These included TCM, Ayurveda,
Curanderismo, Aboriginal, and biomedical approaches.

Historically these approach stem from studies that are 100s to 1000s of years .
<table 2.1>

Issues at
play in Cultural Systems of HealthI. Worldviews

Cultural worldviews play an
important role in understanding of disease and our communication about
healthcare. While each culture will have an array of beliefs about health and
disease, they fall within a larger worldview that includes notions of reality,
spirituality, and the supernatual.

Dualism is the view that the mind and the body are distinct and separate
components to the human being. As such what happens to the body may not be
directly related to the mind.

Holism views the mind and body as connected, perhaps separate but
interdependent. This may also be a form of monism, where the mind and the
body are seen as one entity, identical and inseparable. In treating the mind
or the body one must treat the other.

Mechanistic and non-mechanistic world views
Western medicine and natural science is based upon a mechanistic view that
assumes there is a physical cause behind disease. The text suggest that this
involves reason, objectivity, and science vs. eastern views that involve:
intuition, subjectivity and religion.

"Western" medicine is seen as having faith in technology and science
to cure disease

"Eastern" perspectives are often characterized as being more
intuitive and spiritual, magical.

This has been seen as as an
ethnocentric perspective taken from "western" countries that denigrate other
systems of health and wellness.

II.
Health Belief Systems
and Causes of illness
..... as indicated above numerous worldviews exist, each including at least
one implicit system of health beliefs

Biomedical - is the dominant model in NA that suggests disease is due to
biological
or physical agent that damages the physical body. Diagnosis is
done through
'objective' methods and places emphasis on the removal or
prevention of disease.
This is the basis of the germ theory that dominates "western"
medicine.

Personalistic - disease is seen as the product of a supernatural agent
(deity), spirit (ghost)
or human (witch) that causes the disease. Treatment may involve the
casting of spells or
removal of curses (Haiti-AIDS).

In thinking of other
cultural settings for healthcare, each with it's own 'culture.' In Canada there
are multiple systems of healthcare, one can survey a number of those traditions
that are a currently found here.

Ayurvedic
Medicine has a long history in India and has influenced the
development of naturopathogy and homeopathy as natural forms of medicine.
NIAMAC-UKNCCAM

Naturopathy -Very similar to traditional western
medicine, generally setting is a little less formal than mainstream medicine,
but makes us of natural treatments for disease and illness. It was first
identified by name in around 1895, but it's practices have been around for many
centuries. See
naturopathyonlinenaturalhealers
CCNM for some information.

Homeopathy -Again similar in style to mainstream
medicine, but also resting on a worldview that is largely rejected in
traditional western medicine.MCHM
OCHM

Europe and the Americas have a historical
tradition of herbalists and witches who have
explored the healing powers of plants and minerals, potions and powders.

Native
American traditions- Tend to be closer to the place of
living. Elders advise on herbal and ritualistic treatments for health problems.
Nancy Turner UVic
ethnobotanist. E.g, the use of:trillium root
(which grows throughout the coast) in childbirth to stop bleeding.
Wild Choke Cherry
Bark to help with respiratory issues: asthma, allergies, and colds.

1) Health Belief Model
– stipulates that we have ideas that we believe to
be true that have an impact on our health In particular beliefs about
behaviours and their impact on health are of interest, but also those of Health
Belief Systems, or clusters of ideas that we may share with others. Values
and social beliefs along with efficacy beliefs are important.

2) Theory of Reasoned Action
– is similar but pays more attention to
intentions that give rise to actions. It involves both attitudes and
the development of subjective norms.

3) Theory
of Planned Behaviour- adds into the equation perceived
behavioural control, such asLocus
of Control considering its impact on
initiating healthy behaviours.

Learned
helplessness is a condition resulting from
severe loss of control and has been associated with depression and poor health.

Following formalised or traditional "western" medical prescriptions or Ayurvedic,
TCM, Naturopathy, Coast Salish,
Kwakwaka'wakw or other
systems involves having a beliefs in the efficacy of the health system as well
as the practitioner.

Folk and
familial remedies and beliefs also become part of someone' System of Health
Beliefs and Practices.